By Amani Raheel, M1, Class of 2023
“The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma.” – Patrick
Homeward Bound
Tag: V2 I1
Cross Stitching: Family, Fundraising, and Fun
By Rachel Holder, M1, Class of 2023
Three Cats at the Winter Window (Cross stitch)
Continue reading “Cross Stitching: Family, Fundraising, and Fun”
On Pins and Needles
By Lauren Zeller, M2, Class of 2022
[Featured below] are two “starter” embroidery pieces I found patterns for, and I decided to try my hand at embroidery as an outlet for some stress and anxiety during my second year. I learned to sew from both of my grandmothers and how to cross stitch from my mom at a very young age, and in college I did some free-hand embroidery on a jean jacket I wore all of the time. I got tons of compliments on the anatomical heart and eye that I did on my jacket, and found that embroidery was similar to basic sewing, but with so much more of an artistic flair. It is basically painting, but instead of using paint, you create the color and texture using embroidery floss (fancy thread). Embroidery can be very difficult, but the finished pieces are so beautiful and satisfying that it more than makes up for the time I spent on them and the number of times I stabbed myself with needles!
Continue reading “On Pins and Needles”Speaking the Truth
How two students shared their medical school experience through podcasts
MCAT’s. Pre-med classes. Applications. This trifecta of medical school requirements brings chills to the most accomplished of medical students and especially more-so to college students aspiring to become doctors. Pre-med students face many obstacles that can make the application process extremely overwhelming. Often questions arise such as “What classes should I take?” or “Who should I find as a mentor?” Luckily there are two first year medical students at KUMC who are happy to help. First year medical students Kiatana Ferguson-Square and Florence Osei created a podcast called “Melanin in Medicine”, which aims to provide advice to aspiring medical students, discuss their own experiences with medicine, and interview others in the medical field.
R.I.P. White Coat
Miranda Machacek, M4, Class of 2020
I laid my original white coat to rest at a beach in Auckland, New Zealand after my final day of an international clinical rotation. White coat disposal ceremonies are a tradition I must confess I have greatly anticipated. I had grown to resent that coat and what it meant. Its characteristic short length was an immediate signal to any healthcare professional in the hospital that I was a student – perhaps to some savvy patients as well. I frequently felt the weight of the “student” label while walking through the hospital. The real or imagined looks of patients, nurses, residents, and attendings that said I was a temporary time-waster at best and utterly incompetent at worst.
A “Virtual” Trip to the Movies
Hosain Ghassemi, M1, Class of 2023
There is something special about seeing a movie in theaters. In the wake of the current crisis, not being able to has probably been one of the simplest pleasures that I’ve come to miss the most. Before the social distancing measures, each Friday was an opportunity to go out and see a movie. On B weeks especially, this weekly tradition offered a chance to celebrate or escape the two weeks before.
Hosain Ghassemi, M1, Class of 2023
There is something special about seeing a movie in theaters. In the wake of the current crisis, not being able to has probably been one of the simplest pleasures that I’ve come to miss the most. Before the social distancing measures, each Friday was an opportunity to go out and see a movie. On B weeks especially, this weekly tradition offered a chance to celebrate or escape the two weeks before.
Medicaid Extension- Not Expansion- is the Key to Decreasing Maternal Mortality in the United States
Hebron Kelecha, Class of 2021
The United States is the only industrialized nation with a rising maternal mortality rate. These rates are not equally distributed, with Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women being 2-3 times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than White women. These alarming rates are not limited to those with lower socioeconomic status but transcend both class and educational level. A study in New York City showed Black women with a college education are more likely to experience life-threatening complications during delivery than a White woman who did not complete high school.
A Craving for Carving
By Tiffany Killblane, M1, Class of 2023 .
Woodcarving was actually something I started to decompress from the stresses of my previous work (college professor) and the “hurry up and wait” of the application process of applying to medical school. I still use it that way – when I need a break from studying, need to think, or just want to sit outside for a bit I’ll go grab my tools and whittle away. I think its important to have a hobby like this – it isn’t demanding by any means, and I can devote a few minutes to a few hours any given day to it. Its easy to pick up and easy to put back down, so it fits in with the demands of a medical student’s life pretty well.
A Glimpse of Guatemala
Nature’s Window. Lake Atitlan and San Pedro, framed by foliage, as seen from halfway up Volcan San Pedro.
By Alyssa Belford, M1, 2023
Spring break for Alyssa Belford came with an opportunity to explore another part of the world. Experience some of the sights from this year’s cohort of students who traveled abroad to Guatemala. From the picturesque views, to candid moments of daily life, Alyssa’s photos help bring us all to this place between the waters.
Med Intima 